Jar closure



Dec. 14 1926.

J. W.' FAY JAR cLosURE Filed May 12. 1921 Patented Dec. 14, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. ,i

' JOSEPH W. FAY, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

.TAR cLosUnE'. .Ftp

Application mea nay i2, 1921. serial mation. 'j

Mason jar, provided with screw threads.

' about its neck for engagement by the cap,

is a conspicuously familiar type.

Screw caps for Mason jars are spun or stamped from zinc plates, which material 1s well adapted for use in the formatlon of a cap for a fruit jar, for the reason that such metal is not subject to corrosive attacks by the acids contained in thev various fruits when the latter are placed in the jars and sealed by the application of the caps thereto.

The extreme ductility of. the metal referred to also constitutes a characteristlc which has rendered it peculiarly adaptable for the purposes mentioned, in -that it ad l0 mits of ready formation into the desired shapes. But the said metal is likewisepliable in a very great degree; so much so, in

fact,that it isnecessary to provide the capv with a lining which will resist the expansive pressure of the gases sometimes generated bythe contents of the sealed jars. Thelining intervenes to prevent .the outward distortion of the top of the cap by the internal pressure, which is sustained by the lining. Thus, through the agency of the lining, the top of the cap vremains yfiat, and bulging thereof is avoided. The lining is formed as a disc of vitreous material, and is of sufficient thickness to enable it to withstand the expansive pressure referred to.

Although the lining, as well as the cap, is

not subject tothe action of the acids conf.

tained in the vcontents of thejar, vthe assemblage o f the lining within the cap is such thatY it is impossible to exclude germs fromv lodging in the spaces between the assembled parts. In such hidden location, the germs are inaccessible and are not susceptible-to being dislodged in the ordinary sterilizing operations to whichA the cap is subjected after its. removal from the jar. As a result of this unhygienic condition, the germs greatly multiply, but remain undisturbed and when the cap is again usedto covera. lledjar, the germs attack the contents and fermentation ensues.- This condition is ref sponsible for most 4of the difficulty experienced by housekeepers in having their canned goods spoil.

The vitreous lining ofthe cap contributes nothing toward the preservation of the contents of the jar. The lining possesses only the function ascribed, namely, that of relieving the metal'ca of the expansive pressure generated within the jar. Its presence, however, creates a situation which frequently is attended with serious disappointment as well as loss, in that it affords concealment for germs vwhich laterl bring, about the del struction of the canned fruit.

VIn one of its aspects, my invention 1s embodied 1n a cap made of zinc, as lusual,

so that it will not be subject to attack by v the acids contained.l in the contents of the sealed jars, and fromv which cap the vitreous lining heretofore employed, is omitted. This omission leaves the inside of the cap e 11- tirely clearand free from crevices or spaces within which germs might find a hiding place, and so escape destruction when thev caps aresubjected to the sterilizing operation which later follows the opening of the jar. A

The absence from my improved cap of the lining which subserves -only the useful purpose of maintaining the top of the zinc cap in its flat or plane state, is compensated for by the provision of an exteriorly located reinforcement for the cap, which serves to maintain the top of the latter in the desired planular condition. vThis reinforcement may be constructed of any suitable metal, selected with particular regard toits possession ofy rigidity in a degree which will be suflicient to enable it to withstand the expansive pres-4 sure before referred. to, and at the same time possess ductility to an extent which will per-` mit it being easily shaped for ready application to the jar cover to which it is to be attached upon the outside thereof, so as to .form a permanent part of the structure.

In addition to the objections pointed out as inhering in a jar cap provided with a ,vitreous` lining, as described, a further objection to a cap provided with such a lining resides in the fact the lining is greatly liable to fracture, and such fracture frequently occurs, when the cap is accidentally dropped to the fioor. This fracture renders the cap unserviceable, and the whole must be discarded. Inasmuch as the proportionate cost of the lined cap exceeds that of the jar, when replacement becomes necessary, a continuing'`l expense is involved in the use of zinc caps llned with vitreous material. The replacement oostof caps by reason'of broken linings, is entirely obviated by the use of my invention,v

As is well known by all who have used Mason jars, and' other jars provided with a closure constituted as a screw cap, it is of- .on the cap, for the insertion of the blade of a case knife, or other instrument, which will permit a suitable-leverage to be exerted upon the cap to effect rotation of the same about the neck or mouth of the jar,reither to tighten or loosen the cap.

In forming the said transverse recess for effecting the function described, I have in mind also its utilization as a convenient receptacle or holder for containing a label, upon which may be indicated the contents of the jar, and have so formed such recess that the label may b e inserted or removed from the holder with facility.

In the foregoing, I have described in a general wa the nature of my invention, and

`have also escribed the specific embodiment Vof certain features of the invention. In the matter which' follows, I will make further specific description of the structural features shown, and append to this specification the claims which define the novelty residing in my invention. p Y

In the drawing which accompanies this specification,

Figure 1 is a view in elevation showing the upper part of a Mason fruit jar of common and well-known type, and showing my improved cap structure 1n as applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the improved cap, showing the application of a lever thereto for the purpose of rotating the cap, and showin also in connection therewith a label for indicating the contenm of the jar.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view through the central line of the cap, the'view being taken on the line 3 3, Fig. 2. In the drawing, the numeral 1G indicates the upper part of a Mason fruit jar ofwell own commercial form, the jar being provided with integrally formed screw threads upon the neck thereof, as usual. A zinc cap o customary formation is indicated at 11, and 12 is the usual gasket compressed beits preferred form Atween the shoulder of the jar and the flange of the cap when rotative pressure is applied to the latter. The usual vitreous lining for the cap is omitted, and with it its 'function of resisting the internal pressure upon the inside surface of the top of the cap by the gases generated within the sealed jar.

The pliable nature' of the metal used in forming the caps,-usua lly zinc,necessitates the provision of some means in lieu of .the vitreous lining which will enable the cap to resist the expansive pressure referred to, -in order that the topof the cap may be lpreserved in its planularcondition and distortion thereof by bulging prevented. To attain this end. I place about the top ofthe cap and exteriorly thereof a reinforcement which is formed of metal possessing suflicien't rigidity to enable it to resistthe pres'- sures referred to, and-thus prevent `the distortion of the top of the cap from the plane formed at the time of manufacture.

In its preferred form, the .said reinforcement is in the nature of an auxiliary cap 13,

.the flange of which is adapted to be crimped about the bead 14 of the cap 11, so as-to effeet a permanent engagement between the two parts and produce a unitarystructure,

with the said parts effectively locked against relative movement. They, therefore, turn as one part when the cap 1s applied to the jar or removed therefrom.

The provision of an exterior reinforce- .ment for the cap, which enables me to dispense with the usual vitreous lining, and atthe same time preserve the planular condition of the cap against disturbance, also enables me to utilize in a most convenient manner the rigid characteristics of the reinforced cap in constructing the rotating means whereby t-he cap may be unscrewed from the jar. In producing such rotating means, a rectangular or elongated transverse area of the cap is displaced from the plane of the cap 13 into a plane parallel thereto, by the dies of an ordinary stampingpress, prior to crimping the cap 13 in its nal position. In the stamping operation, the ends of the .area 15, are severed from the cap in the plane thereof, so as to permit the displacement'of the metal in such area, but the metal at the side lines of the area is not severed, so that a connection 16 between the sides of the displaced area and the cap 13 is preserved, to constitute an open-end channel 17 on the top of the cap, produced by the separation of the metal in the said area 15' abled to provide metal structures ofthis class,

ficient to loosen the cap without diiciilty, and bring about its removal from the jar, in a manner which will be understood.

In addition to the provision described for effecting rotation of the cap, I am also ena convenient means for holding a label indicating the nature of the contents of the jar. This result I. achieve by limiting the extent of the lateral displacement of a smaller portion of the area 15, causing such portion 19, to remain in a plane slightly below thatv of area 15, sofas to form a secondary channel 20, into which an indicating card or label 2 1, may be slipped and retainedby frictional'engagement. From what has been previously stated, the manner of forming the secondary channel 20,r will be clearly understood by those conversant with theinanufacture of and it will be sufficient therefore, for the present purpose to state that the cutting and foi-.mation of the suitable implement, as a tation of the cap, the channel structure bethe secondary channel result from operations similar to those 'performed in constructing the main channel 17.

In the construction described, the unitary structure is'provided with a channel in hard metal portion to be engaged by any knife, 'to .effect roing formed by the lateral displacement ef the metal from the plane of the cap. `This feature of the construction is dominant in,

whatever form the 'invention may be 'en ibodied. The provision of the'means for holding the indicating card for label is v merely incidental and subordinate to the vpresent type,

dominant feature, and may be omitted without impa'iring the effectiveness of the principleof the invention.

. My invention has greatly simplified the cost of production of jar closures of the the desirable features of thosein common top thereof,

the top thereof,

' said auxiliary cap surface displaced form an openingfor the entry of an mple.

and has enabled me to preserve- At the same time I dispense with the USB.

.use of the. costly-and-frangible: vitreous linings, the use of which has been in very many' cases attended Withiinsatisfactory results'as f comprising a soft what metal screw cap having a circular bead at the l ncombination with an auxiliary. cap of relatively harder material crimped upon the saidfbead to unite the elements in. one `structure, the said auxiliary cap-being provided with al transverse opening for the insertion of an implement by means of which rotation may be imparted'to the combined elements.

2'. A closure for jars comprising a soft metal screw cap having a circular bead at in combination with 4an auxiliary cap of relatively lvharder material criinpd upon the said bead to form a unitary `structure with the soft metal cap, the

having an implement re-l ceiving channel transversely of the top lthereof, whereby the combined' elements may be rotated as a unit..

3. A closure for jars comprising a soft metal screw cap having'a c the top thereof, iliary `cap of crimped upon the said bead to form a unitary structure with the soft metal cap, the said auxiliary cap having an area of its top from Athe plane thereof lo in combination Iwith an auxment whereby the unitary cap may berotated.

In testimony whereof, I have signed m name at Milwaukee this 30th day of Apri J. W. FAY.

lrcular bead at'- relatively harder material 

